Dental Implants Meet the Needs of Patients Missing Teeth

If you suffer from tooth loss, you’re dealing with a multitude of challenges. The older you get, the higher risk you are for losing permanent teeth. Ignoring missing teeth is the worst decision you can make if you want to maintain any semblance of health and aesthetics with your smile. Lake Forest dentist, Dr. James Fondriest and the rest of our team at Lake Forest Dental Arts, provides durable and aesthetically pleasing tooth loss solutions to patients in the form of dental implants.

Why do Adults Lose Teeth?

There are many reasons for permanent tooth loss. One is dental trauma such as sports injuries or car accidents. Other times, your tooth may require extraction in order to reduce crowding or prevent the spread of a severe tooth infection. The most common cause of adult tooth loss is periodontal disease. Gum infections are usually the result of poor oral hygiene, though sometimes hormonal fluctuations and genetics are the culprit. Patients with gum disease which remains untreated usually end up with red, swollen, sore gums which bleed easily. Without expedient treatment, gum disease may lead to loose teeth which require extraction or will fall out on their own.

Facial Collapse

Losing a tooth means that your surrounding teeth may drift toward the empty socket. The more teeth you lose, the bigger the space, and the more room for shifting. Eventually, you are likely to develop severe misalignment which increases your risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and TMJ issues. Missing teeth also cause the body to stop supplying surrounding jawbone tissue with vitamins and nutrients. Deprived of these nutrients, your jawbone will deteriorate. Loss of bone density leads to more tooth loss and a sunken appearance of the facial structure. Fortunately, dental implants are accepted by the body as natural teeth, so the flow of nutrients to your jawbone will resume. With implant dentistry, your smile and your youthful features are preserved for years to come.

What is the Best Way to Replace Teeth?

Dental implants are made from biocompatible titanium posts which are inserted directly into the jawbone. The first step involves a comprehensive consultation and examination with Dr. Fondriest. Our team will make sure your jawbone tissue can support the dental implant posts and that your health will allow for surgery. Impressions and measurements of your mouth will ensure that your implants fit perfectly. After your implants are permanently placed, your jawbone tissues bond with the posts in a process clinically termed osseointegratrion. Porcelain crowns are placed on individual implants, or a set of full or partial dentures can replace entire arches of missing teeth. These faux teeth are fixed and sturdy and you should treat them just as you would natural teeth.

Special Care for Implants

Fortunately, dental implants are maintainable just as if they were natural teeth. Floss daily, and brush your teeth twice each day. Infection can still ensue below your implants even if cavities are no longer a possibility. You should maintain routine cleanings and checkups as always. Meticulously cared for dental implant retained dentures will last for many years – possibly even the rest of your life. If you do have issues or concerns with your new smile, however, don’t hesitate to call Dr. Fondriest. The sooner the issue is attended to, the less invasive and costly the solution will likely be.

Visit your Lake Forest Dentist

For people missing one or more teeth, dental implants provide crucial tooth replacement. To learn more about our implant procedures, talk to your Lake Forest cosmetic dentist today. Dr. James Fondriest will restore your smile with the latest in quality implant dentistry. To schedule an appointment, call our 60045 dentist office at (847) 234-0517. Also, visit our dental website for services, testimonials, and before-and-after gallery. At Lake Forest Dental Arts, we provide our patients with general, cosmetic, and restorative dental care. Dr. Fondriest and his staff welcome patients from all of the surrounding cities of Chicago.